NEW ORLEANS--Jan. 27, 2014: For the second
consecutive year, Joe Verde, president of the Joe Verde Group in San Juan
Capistrano, Calif., was the top bidder on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle
auctioned by ADESA at the National Automobile Dealers Association
Convention & Expo.

Verde's winning bid of $27,000 for the 2013 Heritage Softail Classic
Anniversary Edition will be added to a $10,000 grant from the National
Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation, which was presented to the
Wounded Veterans Initiative of Canine Companions for Independence (CCI)
earlier today. CCI trains companion dogs for wounded veterans, a cause long
supported by the nation's new-car and -truck dealers.

The "vintage bronze/black" model (No. 1546 of 1900 produced) was donated
by ADESA, which runs vehicle auctions throughout North America.

"These wounded veterans give so much. We really appreciate the NADA
Foundation for making us aware of Canine Companions and for giving us the
opportunity to contribute to such a worthy cause," said Verde, an Army
veteran who served in Vietnam.

This is the third year ADESA has held a live auction at the NADA
convention. Proceeds from the auction and the grant go to the NADA
Foundation's Frank E. McCarthy Memorial Fund, in whose name the CCI
donation is made. McCarthy was chief executive of NADA from 1968 to
2001.

U.S. Air Force veteran Jason Morgan, who is paralyzed from the waist
down, and his service dog Napal, a black Labrador retriever, represented
CCI at both events.

"When you go through a disability like mine, it completely changes your
life in every way," Morgan said. "As a veteran, Napal is the biggest
contributor to my well-being and my way of life since my injury 14 years
ago."

Morgan was injured when his vehicle was ambushed during a special
operations narcotics mission in South America.

The ADESA auctions have raised $71,000 for the NADA Foundation and
Canine Companions for Independence.

"What an amazing auction. I want to take this opportunity to personally
thank our customers and NADA attendees for their support and generosity,"
said Tim Zierden, ADESA senior vice president of dealer services. "Each
year the event grows. I am honored we are all able to support such a great
cause like Canine Companions for Independence."